He said the findings highlight that three of the top five causes of death - diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol - can be treated.

Dr Taksler said helping patients understand treatment options and approaches can have a “powerful impact” on life-years.

He said the results also highlight the importance of preventive care in clinical practice and why it should be a priority for physicians.

Dr Taksler added: “The reality is, while we may know the proximate cause of a patient’s death, for example, breast cancer or heart attack, we don’t always know the contributing factors, such as tobacco use, obesity, alcohol and family history.